I agree with Dmitry Verdasco, or rather, Paul McNamee's stance on the Tomic-Tennis Australia conflict.

I don't know if it's just me, but I think there are a fair number of Aussie fans who despise Tomic. It's like this weird self-hating thing they have going on with him. Some of the greatest vitriol directed at Tomic seems to come from the Aussies themselves. Americans, on the other hand, seem to have the opposite problem. They think everything their player does is correct (see: Roddick, Harrison, Fish, etc).

I think McNamee does a great job speaking to the heart of the matter. Bernie's got problems, but Tennis Australia aren't helping him (nor are they helping themselves) by publicly hanging him out to dry. At best, it's a vindictive, petty play. Furthermore, as McNamee notes, Australia isn't exactly flush with bright young talent right now. Things may change in the next few years, but for now, Tomic and Matosevic are the best bets. Rafter is not in a position to go cherry-picking. He has to work with what he's got, make lemonade from lemons, etc.

Aussies don't like it if you get too big for your britches, it's the culture I guess. Hasn't stopped people from achieving in the past.

Also the country has the most promising young player in the world who is a great example to younguns in terms of attitude, Ashleigh Barty.

12-10-2012 07:44 AM

fifthsetshootout

Re: Bernard Tomic SLAMMED by Rafter, Masur - may be left out of Davis Cup

I agree with Dmitry Verdasco, or rather, Paul McNamee's stance on the Tomic-Tennis Australia conflict.

I don't know if it's just me, but I think there are a fair number of Aussie fans who despise Tomic. It's like this weird self-hating thing they have going on with him. Some of the greatest vitriol directed at Tomic seems to come from the Aussies themselves. Americans, on the other hand, seem to have the opposite problem. They think everything their player does is correct (see: Roddick, Harrison, Fish, etc).

I think McNamee does a great job speaking to the heart of the matter. Bernie's got problems, but Tennis Australia aren't helping him (nor are they helping themselves) by publicly hanging him out to dry. At best, it's a vindictive, petty play. Furthermore, as McNamee notes, Australia isn't exactly flush with bright young talent right now. Things may change in the next few years, but for now, Tomic and Matosevic are the best bets. Rafter is not in a position to go cherry-picking. He has to work with what he's got, make lemonade from lemons, etc.

12-09-2012 01:49 AM

Dmitry Verdasco

Re: Bernard Tomic SLAMMED by Rafter, Masur - may be left out of Davis Cup

at least there's one voice among all of those who talked in the Australian tennis establishment who says something a little bit different (I got the link thanks to Australian contributors in the "players forum" section ) :

FORMER Davis Cup winner Paul McNamee has blasted Tennis Australia for its "public vilification" of young gun Bernard Tomic, warning it risks alienating the country's best young talent as it did with Mark Philippoussis and Jelena Dokic.

After much speculation, it was confirmed yesterday that Davis Cup captain Pat Rafter would not select Tomic for the February tie against Chinese Taipei.

And TA is also set to cut its support funding for the 20-year-old due to his poor attitude on and off the court.

The news was met with howls of approval from tennis luminaries past and present. Australia's No 1 female player and grand slam winner, Sam Stosur, voiced the thoughts of many when she urged her fellow Gold Coaster to "grow up".

McNamee, however, said he had been left perplexed by the "bludgeoning" approach of the authorities, adamant there had to be better ways to handle these situations.

"The most disappointing thing from my perspective is the public way (TA) have gone about things. To my way of thinking, that approach isn't helpful for either part, but particularly so for Bernard," McNamee told The Australian.

"The whole timing of it seems strange to me, too. We are right on the brink of a new Australian summer, but the actual Davis Cup tie is still a couple of months away. I mean, why now? And what do they actually hope this will achieve other than ostracising Bernard further and tarnishing a kid's name.

"He is 20. Surely there is a better way, but (TA) don't seem to have any other approach . . I believe they have really hurt our Davis Cup team at a time when we aren't exactly enjoying a huge amount of success."

McNamee was dismissive of TA boss Craig Tiley's justification for the punishment, which included the fact that Tomic's ranking had slipped from 27 to 52, putting him three places behind Marinko Matosevic.

"Let's not kid ourselves, Bernard is our best player and is our best talent by some margin," McNamee said.

"If we are looking at Davis Cup performances, Bernard has actually won his match on the opening day of each of our last two major ties. He has done his job there.

"No one is denying he has had his issues, but surely we can find a way to better nurture him and support his development as both a player and a man than just cutting him completely. To me, that is a flawed strategy.

"It didn't work with Dokic. It didn't work with Philippoussis. It won't work here."

at least there's one voice among all of those who talked in the Australian tennis establishment who says something a little bit different (I got the link thanks to Australian contributors in the "players forum" section ) :

FORMER Davis Cup winner Paul McNamee has blasted Tennis Australia for its "public vilification" of young gun Bernard Tomic, warning it risks alienating the country's best young talent as it did with Mark Philippoussis and Jelena Dokic.

After much speculation, it was confirmed yesterday that Davis Cup captain Pat Rafter would not select Tomic for the February tie against Chinese Taipei.

And TA is also set to cut its support funding for the 20-year-old due to his poor attitude on and off the court.

The news was met with howls of approval from tennis luminaries past and present. Australia's No 1 female player and grand slam winner, Sam Stosur, voiced the thoughts of many when she urged her fellow Gold Coaster to "grow up".

McNamee, however, said he had been left perplexed by the "bludgeoning" approach of the authorities, adamant there had to be better ways to handle these situations.

"The most disappointing thing from my perspective is the public way (TA) have gone about things. To my way of thinking, that approach isn't helpful for either part, but particularly so for Bernard," McNamee told The Australian.

"The whole timing of it seems strange to me, too. We are right on the brink of a new Australian summer, but the actual Davis Cup tie is still a couple of months away. I mean, why now? And what do they actually hope this will achieve other than ostracising Bernard further and tarnishing a kid's name.

"He is 20. Surely there is a better way, but (TA) don't seem to have any other approach . . I believe they have really hurt our Davis Cup team at a time when we aren't exactly enjoying a huge amount of success."

McNamee was dismissive of TA boss Craig Tiley's justification for the punishment, which included the fact that Tomic's ranking had slipped from 27 to 52, putting him three places behind Marinko Matosevic.

"Let's not kid ourselves, Bernard is our best player and is our best talent by some margin," McNamee said.

"If we are looking at Davis Cup performances, Bernard has actually won his match on the opening day of each of our last two major ties. He has done his job there.

"No one is denying he has had his issues, but surely we can find a way to better nurture him and support his development as both a player and a man than just cutting him completely. To me, that is a flawed strategy.

"It didn't work with Dokic. It didn't work with Philippoussis. It won't work here."

Good to see a voice of reason. Even a lazy Tomic is better than the other mugs running around out there for Australia at the moment. We haven't been in the World Group for several years now - the aim of the game is to win, after all.

12-07-2012 02:51 PM

duong

Re: Bernard Tomic SLAMMED by Rafter, Masur - may be left out of Davis Cup

at least there's one voice among all of those who talked in the Australian tennis establishment who says something a little bit different (I got the link thanks to Australian contributors in the "players forum" section ) :

FORMER Davis Cup winner Paul McNamee has blasted Tennis Australia for its "public vilification" of young gun Bernard Tomic, warning it risks alienating the country's best young talent as it did with Mark Philippoussis and Jelena Dokic.

After much speculation, it was confirmed yesterday that Davis Cup captain Pat Rafter would not select Tomic for the February tie against Chinese Taipei.

And TA is also set to cut its support funding for the 20-year-old due to his poor attitude on and off the court.

The news was met with howls of approval from tennis luminaries past and present. Australia's No 1 female player and grand slam winner, Sam Stosur, voiced the thoughts of many when she urged her fellow Gold Coaster to "grow up".

McNamee, however, said he had been left perplexed by the "bludgeoning" approach of the authorities, adamant there had to be better ways to handle these situations.

"The most disappointing thing from my perspective is the public way (TA) have gone about things. To my way of thinking, that approach isn't helpful for either part, but particularly so for Bernard," McNamee told The Australian.

"The whole timing of it seems strange to me, too. We are right on the brink of a new Australian summer, but the actual Davis Cup tie is still a couple of months away. I mean, why now? And what do they actually hope this will achieve other than ostracising Bernard further and tarnishing a kid's name.

"He is 20. Surely there is a better way, but (TA) don't seem to have any other approach . . I believe they have really hurt our Davis Cup team at a time when we aren't exactly enjoying a huge amount of success."

McNamee was dismissive of TA boss Craig Tiley's justification for the punishment, which included the fact that Tomic's ranking had slipped from 27 to 52, putting him three places behind Marinko Matosevic.

"Let's not kid ourselves, Bernard is our best player and is our best talent by some margin," McNamee said.

"If we are looking at Davis Cup performances, Bernard has actually won his match on the opening day of each of our last two major ties. He has done his job there.

"No one is denying he has had his issues, but surely we can find a way to better nurture him and support his development as both a player and a man than just cutting him completely. To me, that is a flawed strategy.

"It didn't work with Dokic. It didn't work with Philippoussis. It won't work here."

How much of this has to do with the personal rift between Tomic and Rafter? While I definitely agree Tomic is a brat and a headcase of his own making, I don't think Australia's tennis federation is taking the right approach with him. I can understand why they would cut off Tomic's funding. But what do they expect to gain by publicly trashing their best young hope? Even if Matosevic is their no. 1 ranked player right now, Matosevic is by no means an up-and-coming prospect.

I watched parts of the Newcombe tennis awards and I was surprised by the amount of attention that was heaped on Matosevic. He deserves it for the improvements he's made this year, but I wonder if the expectations will become a cumbersome burden for him as well in 2013.

They were trying to do the right thing by him, Matosevic I mean. He is our #1 male, but Hewitt and Tomic get most of the headlines. He deserves a bit of fuss made over him.

Completely agree about your first paragraph. Except for the funding. He should get funding as our best prospect since Hewitt, just like all our crap juniors do, and just as Hewitt's pals (Luczak, Guccione, Healey) all get paid by TA to travel the globe with him.

The media here, and TA, do treat Tomic very badly - worse than they did with Dokic IMO. Yeah he's brattish and acts a little entitled, but in the end if he doesn't live up to his own hype than he'll look like a fool, not Tennis Australia. The media even jumped on him for having his residence outside Australia so he doesn't have to pay taxes, while Hewitt resides in the Bahamas!!!

12-07-2012 07:50 AM

se7en

Re: Bernard Tomic SLAMMED by Rafter, Masur - may be left out of Davis Cup

Tomug is just fine, you however has a much serious problem to deal with. Considered seeing a shrink yet?

12-07-2012 06:51 AM

heya

Re: Bernard Tomic SLAMMED by Rafter, Masur - may be left out of Davis Cup

Personal problems are very big. There's nothing worse than losing at the US Open to one of the biggest cowards in tennis.

12-07-2012 06:41 AM

fifthsetshootout

Re: Bernard Tomic SLAMMED by Rafter, Masur - may be left out of Davis Cup

How much of this has to do with the personal rift between Tomic and Rafter? While I definitely agree Tomic is a brat and a headcase of his own making, I don't think Australia's tennis federation is taking the right approach with him. I can understand why they would cut off Tomic's funding. But what do they expect to gain by publicly trashing their best young hope? Even if Matosevic is their no. 1 ranked player right now, Matosevic is by no means an up-and-coming prospect.

I watched parts of the Newcombe tennis awards and I was surprised by the amount of attention that was heaped on Matosevic. He deserves it for the improvements he's made this year, but I wonder if the expectations will become a cumbersome burden for him as well in 2013.

12-07-2012 06:07 AM

Charger

Re: Bernard Tomic SLAMMED by Rafter, Masur - may be left out of Davis Cup

when will he learn to keep his mouth shut

12-07-2012 05:49 AM

DanaKz

Re: Bernard Tomic SLAMMED by Rafter, Masur - may be left out of Davis Cup

12-06-2012 09:51 PM

duong

Re: Bernard Tomic SLAMMED by Rafter, Masur - may be left out of Davis Cup

Bernard Tomic has hit back at reports he was left out of Australia's Davis Cup team due to attitude issues. Tennis Australia director of tennis Craig Tiley was quoted on Thursday as saying Davis Cup captain Pat Rafter won't consider Tomic for the tie against Taiwan while questioning the 20-year-old's commitment to representing his country.

But Tomic later refuted the claims, insisting he told Rafter he was never available for the February clash and would instead be focusing on ATP events in the United States.
"I was never meant to play that Davis Cup tie," Tomic told the Ten Network.

"I spoke to Pat (about that).
"I'm going to use that time for training and to prepare for tournaments in America."

"I'm young and I'm learning. You get to a point where you need to stop and I think it's a good bit of advice," said Tomic.

"I'm working really hard and trying to push myself to become the best tennis player I can be.

"I've had a slippery slope the last year. It's changing me and I'll prove I'm going to be the best-ever player one day to play this game."

Tomic will get the chance to start proving the doubters wrong when he represents Australia at the Hopman Cup in Perth later this month.